Newcastle Summer Ale - The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #52 (May 2011):

Typical summer-driven incarnation here to drum up sales (summer = light and golden, right?). Nothing wrong with that, just typical. Clear and golden, impressive head on top. Buttery nose with some spicy hop presence. Smoothness over crispness in a fluffy light body. Buttery yeast flavor is the main attraction here, with the malt helping to round it out. Hops have a quick kiss of bitterness and spicy flavor. Light bready maltiness peeks through right before the dry finish. The buttery tone eventually chips away at the drinkability; not half bad, but the flavor doesn’t scream summer to us, so perhaps it’s not so typical after all.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 14:23:22 | More by BeerAdvocate

NormLobstah

Virginia

2/5  rDev -32.7%

05-25-2013 03:32:38 | More by NormLobstah

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3/5  rDev +1%

05-23-2013 16:12:04 | More by InspectorBob

Slay40

Michigan

2.75/5  rDev -7.4%

05-17-2013 00:27:02 | More by Slay40

ajtorres311

Florida

2/5  rDev -32.7%

05-15-2013 16:45:00 | More by ajtorres311

blknikon

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev +9.4%

05-07-2013 22:33:31 | More by blknikon

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -15.8%

05-07-2013 14:22:51 | More by tommyguz

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

2.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A 355ml bottle with a BB of April 2013. Picked up from a supermarket a while back, and stored in my garage. Brewed in Tadcaster (presumably at John Smiths). The Newcastle brand seems to be plastered on an increasing number of beers - rather than bolstering the brand I reckon the effect will be to dilute it. Oh well.

Poured into a straight pint glass. A clear golden-amber colour with medium carbonation. Forms a decent head of frothy white foam that lasts for a minute or two before dissipating. Some lacing. Aroma of light grainy malt with hints of faint caramel, husk, mild cardboard, fruity ale yeast and a whiff of stewed leaves. Not much going on.

Tastes of grainy malt with a mild finish. Hints of weak caramel, husk, fruity ale yeast, wet cardboard and a hint of stewed leaves. A slightly harsh note in the background, followed by a subtle bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is dry, smooth and faintly tingly. Carbonation is OK but the body is thin and watery. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of cardboard and stewed vegetables.

Meh - a pretty poor effort. Bland and watery, with little depth or character to keep you interested. The Newcastle brand is going to be subject to the law of diminishing returns if it keeps making brews like this. Give it a miss.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 21:58:59 | More by jazzyjeff13

Tiernan

Texas

2.25/5  rDev -24.2%

04-27-2013 02:24:41 | More by Tiernan

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

2.96/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3

355ml bottle: BBD 30 Apr 2013. Poured into a 'Back Forty Beer Co' badged glass sleeve @ home on 13 Apr 2013.

Light amber with an orange hint, on top a thin covering of off-white bubbles. Sadly the head soon did a runner.

Toffee apple aroma, with added grain.

Malty feel to the actual taste, but this a watery brew and it doesn't carry the 4.4% ABV very well at all. Nicely carbonated but lacks depth of flavour and comes across as a weak, almost bland blend. To be fair it does have a crisp bitter bite towards the end, but overall I wasn't really impressed.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 17:18:40 | More by BlackHaddock

Jamison85

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev +17.8%

04-02-2013 13:12:22 | More by Jamison85

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -32.7%

03-20-2013 22:39:17 | More by BGsWo22

allbrigs

North Carolina

2/5  rDev -32.7%

03-12-2013 15:55:05 | More by allbrigs

bsopko

New Jersey

2/5  rDev -32.7%

03-01-2013 20:39:23 | More by bsopko

Bill235

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -7.4%

02-13-2013 15:36:09 | More by Bill235

powdersoldier

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +26.3%

02-06-2013 18:07:57 | More by powdersoldier

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.33/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tall pint glass. Pours a translucent yellow orange with a small white head with some lacing. Smells fruity and grainy, nice and inviting. Tastes of slight fruit, sweet, with a nice grain profile. Beer is quite watery and is slightly under carbonated. Overall, a slightly above average beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 03:47:38 | More by cyclonece09

j-rod18

North Dakota

3.75/5  rDev +26.3%

01-15-2013 23:53:55 | More by j-rod18

TaylorK

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +34.7%

01-06-2013 03:33:23 | More by TaylorK

cliff1066

Virginia

3/5  rDev +1%

01-01-2013 01:53:42 | More by cliff1066

dmk91

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev +9.4%

12-31-2012 05:00:04 | More by dmk91

DMB

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +34.7%

12-29-2012 19:41:32 | More by DMB

mullenite

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -15.8%

12-29-2012 15:03:56 | More by mullenite

Karma

2.25/5  rDev -24.2%

12-24-2012 02:07:20 | More by Karma

barczar

Kentucky

3.05/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Been I'm the fridge several months.

Pours a brilliant golden color with half inch ivory head that dissipates quickly, leaving spotty lacing.

Toasted caramel malt, grain, and herbal and floral hops comprise the aroma. Smells perfumey.

Flavor also reveals floral and herbal hop notes, with a fake cherry nuance emerging. Toasted bread forms the nondescript backbone, leading to a lightly bitter finish.

Body is moderate, with high carbonation.

Overall, a bit of a strange flavor combination. The fruity, estery taste seems out of place. The carbonation is too high. Lacks malt profile.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 21:40:47 | More by barczar